Euclid's \textit{Optics} and geometrical astronomy (Q904223)

This paper shows that in Greek mathematics there was a deep connection between optics and astronomy. The core of the paper deals with the comparison between Propositions 23--27 of Euclid's \textit{Optics} and Propositions 1--3 of Aristarchus' \textit{On the sizes and distances of the Sun and the Moon}, concerning the vision of a sphere from two points. The analysis includes also a reference to Autolycus of Pitane's \textit{On the moving sphere}. Some little mistakes show that Euclid's \textit{Optics} did not address ``a single philosophical or mathematical goal'', reflecting instead different roots. We could also remark that such heterogeneity of the roots under the uniformity of the Euclidean style can also be revealed in Euclid's \textit{Elements}.